Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University

SNDT Women’s University is the first Women’s university in India as well as in South-East Asia. The University was founded in 1916 for a noble cause of Women’s Education. The first five women graduated in 1921 from this University. The University Headquarters is in Churchgate Campus, Mumbai and the other two campuses of this University are at Juhu, Mumbai and Karve Road, Pune.

In a century old existence, the university has grown into a multidisciplinary institution hosting diverse professional, technical and liberal arts programmes from K12 to PhD. SNDTWU is probably one such university where there is Nursery school as laboratory for Human Development Department, Centres for Women's Studies, Inclusion and Exclusion, Distance Education, andhas affiliated institutions for doctoral programmes. Unlike most university's in the country which have to have state jurisdiction, SNDTWU is unique in terms of jurisdiction. SNDTWU can affiliate colleges/institutions anywhere in India with prior consent from the State Government.

SNDT Women's University is committed to the cause of women's empowerment through access to education, particularly higher education, through relevant courses in the formal and non-formal streams. The university is committed to meet the changing socio-economic needs, with human values and purposeful social responsibility and to achieve excellence with “Quality in every Activity” through vocational and professional courses for women. The motto of the university is “An enlightened woman is a source of infinite strength”. There are six institutions recognized by SNDTWU for Ph. D. Research. SNDTWU is a home to 1100 teaching and non-teaching staff members and 50,000 students spread across seven states and a union territory. SNDT Women's University is in top 50 multi-disciplinary universities of India and ranked sixth in Western India according to the Week-Hansa Research ranking of 2016.

Today we visualise the SNDT Women’s University as a world class university that continually responds to the changing social realities through the development and application of knowledge. The purpose of such engagement will be to create an inclusive society that promotes and protects the dignity, equality, social justice and human rights for all, with special emphasis on empowerment of women. Our Goals:

• Provide Access To Higher Education For Women Through Formal And Non- Formal Streams Including Adult And Continuing Education.
• Provide A Wide Range Of Professional And Vocational Courses For Women To Meet The Socio-Economic Demands.
• Develop Scholarship And Research In Emerging Areas Of Study, Particularly With Focus On Women's Perspectives.
• Inculcate Among Women Positive Self- Concept, Awareness Of Women's Issues And Rights With A Rational Outlook Towards Society.
• Enhance Purposeful Education With 'Human Values' And Social Responsibility By Participating In Outreach Programmes.
• Achieve Excellence In The Academic Disciplines, Research And Extension Activities Through Emphasis On 'Quality In Every Activity'.